Kew Gardens - in photographs

THIS year (2009), Kew celebrates 250 years as a botanical garden. Today, not only is it a global centre for research on plants and fungi, it also houses the Earth’s largest botanical and horticultural collections. It’s also rich in history. Moreover, this World Heritage site is very beautiful – whatever the season.

The gardens cover an area of over 300 acres on the south bank of the Thames in south-west London.

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The Temple of Bellona, named after the Roman goddess of war, is one of Kew's many follies. Behind its Doric facade is a room decorated with plaques bearing the names of British and Hanoverian regiments which distinguished themselves in the Seven Years' War (1756 - 1763). 1 of 21

For some really stunning images of Kew, see Joanna Jackson’s book A Year in the Life of Kew Gardens.Read our review